Dates visited: November 21, 2001 – November 25, 2001 and January 29, 2014 – February 2, 2014
We visited Disney World in 2001 (before Rohan was born) and then again in 2014 (for Rohan), and despite the 13 year gap, Magic Kingdom still remains the happiest place on Earth! People complain about admission lines, ticket prices, huge crowds, etc., but the fact is once you are there, you are in a magical place… …you feel as excited and carefree as you did when you were a kid. In 2014, we visited Magic Kingdom over two days and we found that pace perfect. Rohan had a blast and he enjoyed every ride… …including Space Mountain which we did twice (and I hate roller coasters). Fortunately, the third time we stood in the line, they closed down the ride due to some technical problem; I thanked my lucky stars and exited the building at the speed of light. My personal favorite, however, was the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I rode it twice and was ready for twenty more turns!
We also visited Animal Kingdom in 2014 but I came away disappointed. In hindsight, a better choice might have been Hollywood Studios but I was afraid Rohan might not get the movie references. But I survived Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom… …fortunately Rohan was thrilled with doing that ride just once and even though I shut my eyes and screamed my lungs out throughout, it was a heck of a exhilarating ride.
- The quintessential Magic Kingdom shot… …it truly is the happiest place on Earth!
- The equally mischievous Sorcerer’s Apprentice
- Mickey and Minnie at the “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”
- You can never have too much of Mickeys
- Walt Disney and the world’s most famous cartoon character
- Even the rain didn’t dampen our spirits… …
- Close-up of Cinderella Castle
- Magic Kingdom railroad depot
- Stairway to Magic Kingdom railroad depot
- View of the Cinderella Castle from Main Street, U.S.A.
- Main Street Electrical Parade
- Outside the entrance to the Magic Kingdom
- Dusky shot of Walt, Mickey and Cinderella Castle
- Shops along Main Street, U.S.A.
- With Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse
- Town Square Theater
- Light and sound show at Cinderella Castle
- Mickey and Minnie at the “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”
- Scary faces outside the Haunted Mansion
- Illuminated Cinderella Castle and fireworks
- Happy as a mouse in a cheese factory… …on the ferryboat to Magic Kingdom
- View of the Cinderella Castle from Main Street, U.S.A.
- Saying goodbye was the hardest part… …
- Animal Kingdom… …the Tree of Life, a sculpted 145-foot-tall (44 m), 50-foot-wide (15 m) artificial tree
- Close-up of the Tree of Life… …about 325 carved animals make up the surface of the tree and its trunk
- Zebras on Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Minnie at Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
- Baobab tree in Animal Kingdom
- Rafiki at Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
- Drummin’ it up… …African style
- Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
- Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
- Close-up of the Tree of Life… …about 325 carved animals make up the surface of the tree and its trunk
- Micket at Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
- Discovery Island